Tubular cleat wrench with circumferentially spaced gripping teeth



Jan. 26, 1954 c. c. MANCHESTER 2,667,095 TUBULAR CLEAT WRENCH WITH CIRCUMF'ERENTIALLY SPACED GRIPPING TEETH Filed June 27, 1951 INVENToR. C2 ya@ C2 Mano/557m ArroR/veys Patented Jan. 26, 1954 TUBULAR CLEAT WRENCH WITH CIRCUM- FERENTIALLY SPACED GRIPPING TEETH Clyde C. Manchester, Stryker, Ohio Application une 27, 1951, Serial N0. 233,837

2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in cleat wrenches, that is to say Wrenches for tightening or loosening shoe cleats such as are commonly used on shoes worn by contestants in athletic games.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of a wrench that is adapted to grip and turn a cleat of frusto-conical shape, the tapered wall of which is smooth and dicult to grasp tightly.

Another object is the provision of a wrench of the character stated which shall be light in weight and of relatively small size and hence well adapted to be carried in the pocket of the owner.

Still another object is the provision of a wrench of the character stated which shall be easy and convenient to use and which shall be well adapted for rapid manipulation.

Other objects and features of novelty will appear as I proceed with the description of those embodiments of the invention which, for the purposes of the present application, I have illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in Which Fig. 1 is a perspective View o'f a football shoe with conventional cleats, showing my wrench in operative engagement with one of the cleats.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view, partly in section of the wrench in position to be forced into gripping engagement with a cleat.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional View taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4- is an end View looking in the direction of arrow 4, Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of a modification, and

Fig. 6 is an end view of the same.

p In the drawing the sole of a football shoe is indicated at It. A series of recesses are formed in the sole extending upwardly from the lower surface thereof, and. in these recesses are mounted a like number of metal inserts II. Each of these inserts is provided with a threaded socket in which is mounted a stud I2. An integral hexagonal shaped collar I3 is formed on the stud intermediate its ends in order to provide a convenient means for setting or removing the stud. A considerable portion of the stud I2 projects outwardly beyond the collar I3 to form a post upon which the cleat is to be mounted.

These conical cleats I5 are supplied in different sizes. In general, when the playing eld is dry relatively small cleats may be preferred, whereas larger cleats are preferable when the ground is muddy and :slippery and it is difficult to obtain a good foothold. Sometimes changes in weather conditions make it highly desirable for a player to be able toA change cleats rapidly, as in the. rest period between halves of a football game. Each cleat is formed with a central cavity to receive a steel sleeveA H5y that is internally threaded to screw onto the projecting part of the stud I2. If the cleat is formed of rubber or rubber composition, the sleeve I5 may be vulcanized to it. If the cleat is made of aluminum or other material the sleeve is secured to it by other suitable means.

The wrench comprises a tubular handle I8 having' an outer diameter of the order of one inch, which has been found to be a satisfactory size to lit the hand of the average man and enable him to exert the required turning force. Preferably the outer surface of the handle is knurled as shown. Aluminum tubing is excellent as the handle material, since it is light in Weight and easily Worked.

On the ends of this tube are mounted caps I9 and 20 which are preferably steel stampings. Both caps have cylindrical skirts which fit snugly over the ends of the tubing. The hat end portion of cap I9 is cut out centrally to provide a hole of a size to t over the small end of a cleat and extend part way up its side, the distance depending upon the size of the cleat in question. The opening in the flat part of the cap is symmetrical with the axis of the handle so as to center the tubular handle I8 on the cleat. The opening is so formed that a series of prongs 2| evenly spaced around the opening project inwardly beyond the other edges thereof. The cap is preferably casehardened, and when so hardened a single such prong is effective, but I prefer to employ three or more prongs so that the tool may set squarely upon the cleat and so that the grip may be properly distributed around it.

The cap 2l) at the opposite end of handle I8 is preferably formed with a central equilateral opening 23` of a shape and size to enable the cap to function as a socket Wrench. In the illustrated case the opening is proportioned to ilt hexagonal collar I3, so that in case there is a breakage of the stud I2 it may be readily removed and a new one fastened in place.

In order to prevent the caps I9 and 20 from turning relative to the handle, indentations 24 may be formed to lock the caps to the handle tube.

In the modification of Figs. 5 and 6 the entire tool is made of a single piece of steel tubing, a

portion of which is knurled to provide a rm grip for the user. One end of the tube may be crimped inwardly at an angle of about 45 as shown at 29 to provide a rounded end for enabling the operator to apply pressure with his hand comfortably.

The rst step in forming the opposite or operating end of the tool may be somewhat the same. that is it may be crimped inwardly in a die at an angle of approximately 4:5". The second step is to flatten the crimped end in another press to bring the metal of that end into a plane at right angles to the tube proper. Finally a portion of this inwardly bent metal is cut away by a suitable die to leave a plurality of evenly spaced prongs or teeth 3D. The end including the prongs may then be hardened.

The operation and use of my improved wrench will be obvious from the foregoing description of its construction. The wrench is small and sturdy, can exert ample torsional eort. It is especially convenient because of its light weight, and its generally smooth circular contours leave no projections to cause possible injury to the user or to catch in his clothing when carried in a pocket.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A wrench for shoe cleats of truncated cone shape, comprising a tubular sheet metal handle of a diameter greater than the minimum diameter of the cleat, one end of the handle having an inwardly directed annular flange adapted to engage the tapered wall of the cleat intermediate its ends, said ange having a sharp hard point adapted to be embedded slightly in the cleat and to impart rotational eort thereto when the handle is turned about its axis.

2. A wrench for shoe cleats of truncated cone shape, comprising a tubular sheet metal handle of a diameter greater than the minimum diameter of the cleat, one end of the handle having an inwardly directed annular flange, and said ange having a series of hard metal evenly spaced prongs each projecting inwardly therefrom a like distance, said prongs being adapted to center the handle with respect to said cleat and to grip it and impart rotational effort thereto when the handle is turned about its axis.

CLYDE C. MANCHESTER.

References cited in the me of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,336,794 Stefanian Apr. 13, 1920 1,686,412 Lacerda Oct. 2, 1928 1,752,189 Lotz Mar. 25, 1930 2,227,421 Bjork Jan. 7, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 808 Great Britain Jan. 13, 1893 

